Ashley Regional Medical Center wants all to have a fun and safe summer vacation and have provided summer safety tips when it comes to water activities. Their tips include the following: Only swim in designated areas supervised by lifeguards. Always swim with a buddy. Never leave a child unattended near water or trust a child’s life to another child. Make sure young children and inexperienced swimmers wear U.S. Coast Guard-approved life jackets around water. Don’t play around drains and suction fittings in the pool. Always be cautious around natural bodies of water – currents and underwater hazards can make falling into the water dangerous. Wear a life jacket when boating (most boating fatalities occur from drowning). Avoid alcohol use around pools and bodies of water. And finally, if you have a pool or hot tub, or live near a body of water, keep reach-and-throw equipment, a cell phone, life jackets and a first aid kit nearby.
